◇ GUIDES

Minecraft server guides, minus the fluff

Setup, networking, sizing, mods and maintenance — every guide answers the actual question, including the parts that usually go wrong.

Getting started9 min read

How to make a Minecraft server (the complete 2026 guide)

Every step of self-hosting a Minecraft server — Java, server.jar, eula.txt, port forwarding — explained honestly, including the parts that usually go wrong.

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Networking7 min read

How to port forward a Minecraft server (and when not to)

The five real steps to forwarding TCP 25565, the failure modes routers don't warn you about (CGNAT, changing IPs), and why hosted servers skip this entirely.

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Costs & sizing6 min read

How much does a Minecraft server cost in 2026?

Self-hosting, Realms, and rented hosting compared honestly — hardware, electricity, and monthly prices — so you can pick by player count and mods, not marketing.

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Costs & sizing6 min read

How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

The sizing table that answers it directly — vanilla to kitchen-sink modpacks — plus what actually consumes server RAM and the symptoms of getting it wrong.

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Mods & plugins5 min read

How to add plugins to a Minecraft server

Plugins need a Paper (or Spigot) server — not vanilla. Where to get them safely, how the plugins folder works, and the panel route that skips the file juggling.

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Mods & plugins6 min read

How to add mods to a Minecraft server

Mods need a loader (Forge or Fabric), and most need installing on both server and clients. The full walkthrough, the dependency traps, and the one-click route.

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Maintenance5 min read

How to update a Minecraft server without losing your world

The safe update order for vanilla, Paper and modded servers — and the one rule that saves worlds: back up first, because Minecraft never downgrades.

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Crossplay6 min read

Can Java and Bedrock play together? Minecraft crossplay, explained

The direct answer (yes, with GeyserMC), how crossplay actually works between editions, the console caveat, and the setup — manual and one-click.

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Getting started7 min read

How to play Minecraft with friends (all 5 ways, ranked)

LAN worlds, Bedrock invites, Realms, hosting on your PC, and rented servers — what each one actually requires, what it costs, and where each one hits a wall.

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